Thursday, December 18, 2008

Christmas Breakfast

I love the warm, happy feeling of Christmas morning, with far away family gathered in my kitchen.
The last few years I have served this on Christmas morning to my family. I like that you can make the preserves a couple of days ahead and actually prepare the french toast the night before.

VANILLA MAPLE FRENCH TOAST W/WARM BERRY PRESERVES
9 Eggs
2 1/4 c milk
1/3 c maple syrup
1/4 c sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
12 thick slices french bread
1/4 c butter, melted
warm maple syrup
warm berry preserves

Whisk eggs in med bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in milk. Add 1/3 cup maple syrup, sugar, vanilla, and salt; whisk to blend. Divide custard between two 13 X 9 glass baking dishes. Arrange bread in single layer in dishes. Let soak 10 minutes. Turn over, cover, and refrigerate over night. Cook about 4 minutes on each side in the morning.

WARM BERRY PRESERVES

1 1lb bag frozen unsweetened strawberries
1 1lb bag frozen unsweetened nixed berries
2/3 cup red currant jelly
1/3 cup sugar

Mix all frozen berries, jelly and sugar in large nonstick skillet. Let stand until berries thaw and mixture is juicy, stirring occasionally and breaking strawberries into smaller pieces with spoon, about 2 hours. Boil until mixture thickens but is still chunky, stirring frequently, about 7 minutes. Can be prepared 3 days ahead. Cover and chill. Rewarm over med heat, stirring frequently.

2 comments:

Laura Jayne said...

Oh, I love the preserve recipe, I think I will try that this year. Thank you :)

Heather said...

...and to think that you didn't know what the markings were on that tree trunk....maybe a hint:

The things that marked up our tree are used in the process of making one of your ingredients in the recipe above ;o).

(they're markings from sugar taps, an old traditional way of drawing the tree sap from tree's to make maple syrup)

yummmmmmmy - I just might have to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Flora & Fauna

Books I have known & loved

  • Life of Pi
  • A Hundred Years of Solitude
  • Kite Runner
  • The Way the Crow Flies
  • Fall on Your Knees
  • Poisonwood Bible
  • East of Eden
  • Shantaram
  • I Know This Much is True

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